The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower


Author: Stephen Chbosky

Publisher: Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster Imprint)

Rating: Four and a half stars

When we get out of the tunnels, Sam screamed this really fun scream, and there it was. Downtown. Lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder. Sam sat down and started laughing. Patrick started laughing. I started laughing.
And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

Charlie is a sensitive and smart boy. He also a different from anyone in his age; a bit awkward in social and often thinks too much, he can suddenly cry or laugh because of simple things. This book is about his journey on his first year of high school; how he met his best friends: Patrick and Sam, about his first sexual experience, about the first time he was stoned, and about his interaction with his family. Told in simple words, Charlie took us on a roller coaster ride of being an ordinary yet special kid.


You know some books that plunged you into endless action? With dead bodies and mysteries along the plot, and sometimes it makes you afraid to turn off the light? Well, this is not one of those books. This is a book for those who like to think about life, for those who enjoy seeing life from different eyes and - just like Charlie - like to wonder how people got into their places, for people who like to read about people with disorder, because I think that's Charlie, the main character of this story.

I instantly fell in love with Charlie after reading few pages. For me he's so likeable; it wasn't hard to portray him at all. You can see the dynamic and development in Charlie not only from the way he told his stories but also from the way those were written. The same also applied to Patrick and Sam, and even Charlie's family such as his sister, his mother, his father, and his brother. The connection between them felt real and natural. I think Stephen Chbosky did a great job at creating such believable characters.

There were times when the plot went too slow, but this isn't an action story so I'm cool with that. The messages in this story were powerful, I remember reading one sentence and literary stopped because I need to digest it and savor it. But at the same time those weren't too heavy or preachy, not at all - because I hate preachy -it's just perfect for me.

I'm happy that in the end, I could find out what exactly that trigger the Charlie's problem, despite it was sad and shocking, but it made me understand Charlie even more. I wish it was longer, I haven't satisfied savoring Charlie's words! All I can say, if you have the same taste like me, you'll love this!

Lynossa

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Room by Emma Donoghue

Title: Room

Author: Emma Donoghue

Publisher: Picador

Rating: 4 and a half stars

"The world is always changing brightness and hotness and soundness, I never know how it's going to be the next minute." 

Jack was just turned Five and just like any other boy; he likes watching TV, play games, and he loves his Ma very much. He lived in Room with her Ma, Duvet, Table, TV, Bath, and other furnitures and the only person ever he see in that room beside his Ma is Old Nick, an occasionally nighttime visitor. Never set foot outside Room, Jack believed Room is his whole universe and everything outside the room was in Outer World. Everything on TV was not real, but mouse and spider were real because he saw them. But one day her mother revealed the truth: there is world outside the Room and people just like them, thus start Jack's terrifying journey of entering the world for the first time.

This story will break your heart, but mend it back with the warmth of love. Now, I'm not usually say those kind of words, but that's exactly what I felt after I read this book. I can't even imagine the pain that 'Ma' was suffering for being captivated and abused for years by Old Nick. It's scary to think that there are plenty people like Old Nick out there, stalking girls or children as if they're a prize to win. But I was touched by how despite everything, 'Ma' tried to live and took a good care of her son, and also on how Jack constantly tried to understand the new world that confusing yet fascinated him.

It was written from Jack's point of view, which can be annoying sometimes because we could see the ego and selfishness of a five-year old boy. But even though it annoyed me, I still consider it brilliant because that exactly what five-year old boy would think. They think their mother (family) is the whole world, and they're selfish, but they also eager to learn about everything. The plot was a bit slow as the author spend several chapters to show Jack's and Ma's characters and also their daily life in Room. The story got more interesting after Jack managed to escape and saved his Ma. What went after that wasn't about the trial or crime but about how Jack was trying to adapt with everything that's new to him. Stairs, store, hammock, bees, and of course people.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves reading family drama, a bit of psychology, and basically people who like to read story with depth.

Lynossa

Room by Emma Donoghue

Orange Girl by Jostein Gaarder

This review is part of Loving the Review Challenge hosted by Brandi of Blkosiner's Book Blog and Sniffly Kitty of Sniffly Kitty's Mostly Books. Basically all I need to do it post my review with the banner and link it to Siffly Kitty or Brandi's blog.

Title: Orange Girl

Author: Jostein Gaarder

Publisher: Orion Publishing

Rate: 4 and a half stars

“My father died eleven years ago. I was only four then,
I never thought I’d hear from him again, but now we’re
writing a book together.”

To Georg Røed, his father is no more than a shadow, a distant memory. But then one day his grandmother discovers some papers stuffed into the lining of an old red pushchair. The pages are a letter to Georg, written just before his father died, and a story, The Orange Girl. But The Orange Girl is no ordinary story – it is a riddle from the past centering around an incident in his father’s youth. One day he boarded a tram and was captivated by a beautiful girl standing in the aisle, clutching a huge paper bag of luscious-looking oranges. Suddenly the tram gave a jolt and he stumbled forward, sending the oranges flying in all directions. Since that day, his father became obsessed with finding the identity of the Orange Girl, and now, from beyond the grave he is asking his son to help him solve the puzzle...

Few days ago Kay-c asked me what book should she read if she wants to start reading philosophy book. I immediately said' Jostein Gaarder's!'. Jostein Gaarder was the reason why I read philosophy book in the first place. I read Sophie's World years ago and I was hooked! So I started reading his other books. Orange Girl isn't my favorite Gaarder but that doesn't mean this book isn't worthy of your time. On the contrary, I think this is one of the must-read book; especially if you're taking interesting in philosophy. In my opinion every book that made you thought about the meaning of your life was in some way engaging you in philosophical thinking; and this book is one of those books. However unlike Sophie's World, philosophy in this book was presented subtly and you barely realize it. That's why I consider this as a very good start if you want to read philosophy novels.

The character, Georg, was cute and very smart. Most of Gaarder's books feature kids as his main character and he's good at creating believable characters. The plot was a bit slow in the beginning but as you progress in reading you will discover many interesting things; beautiful things and sad things. I was completely blown away by the ending, it was so sad but it make sense to me, it kinda complete my imagination of Georg's father and it didn't disappoint me at all. I think this story will capture the heart of everyone who experienced the lost of a beloved person.

Lynossa

Orange Girl by Jostein Gaarder

The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho

Title: The Devil and Miss Prym

Author: Paulo Coelho

Publisher: Harper Perennial (US)

Rating: 4 Stars

Like Kay-c had mentioned before, I am a fan of Paulo Coelho. It started with The Alchemist; By The River of Piedra I Sat Down and Wept disappointed me a bit, but I rediscover my love again after I read this book. This is an old release, but I re-read it awhile ago and still loving it.

It tells story about a strange man who comes to a small remote village up on the mountain. He came to Chantal Prym, a young lady who work in an inn - hoping to find a ticket to leave her village - a once in a lifetime proposal. This strange man claim that he already bury lots of gold in the forest near the village and will gives the gold to the villagers if they g willinto kill one of them.

In this story, the strange man work as devil, seducing Chantal with a way to end her monotonous lives. But to get that she must willing to sacrifice all the values and norm she believes. What will happened? Will she and the villagers surrender to the temptation and kill an innocent person? Or will they refuse it?

I really like this story; the battle between evil and goodness presented in a very neat way. It's not about super nice protagonist against super bad antagonist. It's about a normal man who had lost everything and willing to burn the world with him tempting a normal girl who lives in a dying village with a change of a lifetime. Not the 'change of lifetime' like most people would think though. I guess 'the bigger the price the higher the stake' is a correct phrase for this story.

Some people often said 'I would kill someone just to have it', but then again how many people actually brave/crazy (because the line between bravery and craziness is thin) enough to do that?

Lynossa

The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho